GB931798A - Refuse converter - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0931798/III/1> <PICT:0931798/III/2> <PICT:0931798/III/3> A refuse converter comprises a cylindrical retort chamber 14 surrounded by a jacket 15 incorporating a lower firebox 16, a preheat feed chamber 23 with a jacket 24, a discharge chamber 46 sealed from the retort chamber and having a screw conveyer 51, and a charging device including an hydraulically-operated axial feed cylinder 29 slidable into the preheat feed chamber 23 and having an hydraulically-operated piston 36 for forcing material from the feed cylinder into the preheat feed chamber. Lateral hoppers initially feed charcoal to the firebox, and a chimney 21 has a damper 28 and a conduit 25 leading to the preheating jacket 24, from which gases are returned to the firebox by a fan 26 and flue 27. Charge material fed into the feed cylinder 29 from the hopper 39 is carried into the preheat feed chamber by said cylinder 29 actuated by an hydraulic ram 33 acting on the truck 32, and discharged therein by a piston 36 operated by an hydraulic ram 37. A shaft 41 attached to the piston 36 extends through the preheat feed chamber into the retort chamber 14 where it is supported on rollers 43, and carries material agitating arms 44 arranged to lie flat on the shaft during the return movement. In the discharge chamber is a seal piston 45 actuated by an hydraulic ram 47, which when moved out from the retort chamber allows material to be carried up by the screw conveyer 51 into a storage bin 52 equipped with a magnetic separator 54. Gases are removed from the retort chamber by pipes 57 to the bottom of a gas scrubber and storage tank 58, from which methane is passed back to be burnt in the firebox once the converter is in operation.